BP:
 

Qualified vocational education and training staff

The training which teaching and training staff undergo is a central quality component. An integrated VET concept requires teachers and trainers to combine the qualities of pedagogue and skilled worker within the same person.

Our experience shows that vocational education and training requires the adoption of holistic methods combining "learning" and "teaching". The fact is that people react and act intellectually, emotionally and practically in building up and learning from experience. In-company trainers, teaching personnel at schools and management staff should, therefore, be in possession of comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge as well as being in a position to impart this knowledge. For this purpose, it is important for them to have a rich pedagogical and didactic set of instruments at their disposal, for them to be able to offer a profound insight into the real world of occupations and work and for them to undergo advanced training on a continuous basis. This is the only way of stimulating learning processes and fostering the development of individual learning strategies and has led to the emergence in Germany of a form of vocational pedagogy which specialises in learning within and for the work process.

The benefits at a glance:

By combining the qualities of "skilled workers" and "pedagogues" within a single person, teaching staff and trainers are able to help trainees overcome complex occupational situations and strengthen the trainees' sense of autonomy and self-responsibility.

Vocational pedagogy integrates technical, business, social and educational disciplines. It provides preparation for the specialist side of teaching whilst also facilitating systematic preparation for the practical elements of training.

Vocational education and training staff who are qualified in both professional and pedagogical terms secure the ongoing adaptation of occupational competences and the high quality of teaching and learning processes.

Prospects for cooperation:

We have developed and institutionalised a large number of training programmes within the scope of the cooperation we have undertaken with our partner countries. The many years of cooperation experience which we bring to the table are used to inform the implementation of VET measures in schools and companies and also deliver benefits for educational management. The support we provide extends beyond teaching and training staff to encompass curriculum developers, training advisors, school principals and educational planners. This enables the vocational pedagogy know-how built up in Germany over a period of several decades to serve as a rich basis for the planning of programmes for our partner countries. These programmes include the systematic interlinking of professional theory, professional practice, specialist didactics and practical teaching exercises.